Certification comparison
AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals) and MS-900 (Microsoft 365 Fundamentals) are both Microsoft entry-level certifications. AZ-900 covers cloud infrastructure; MS-900 covers Microsoft 365 productivity services.
| Factor | AZ-900 | MS-900 |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Cloud infrastructure (Azure) | Microsoft 365 services |
| Target role | Cloud admin, developer, architect track | M365 admin, IT support, business users |
| Difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Cost | ~$165 USD | ~$165 USD |
| Validity | Lifetime | Lifetime |
| Study time | 20–40 hrs | 15–30 hrs |
| Next cert | AZ-104 (Admin) or AZ-204 (Developer) | MS-102 (M365 Administrator) |
Our verdict
These serve different paths. AZ-900 is for cloud/infrastructure roles; MS-900 is for IT admins managing Microsoft 365. Many people take both, but choose the one aligned to your actual job.
Try a sample practice test for each cert. The one that feels more relevant to your work is usually the right call.